BOSTON – Joan Medeiros, a Vice President at BankFive, has been named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2013 Financial Services Champion for the state of Massachusetts.

The Financial Services Champion Award is presented annually to an individual who assists small businesses in obtaining financing either directly or through advocacy efforts to increase the availability of financial services.

This nomination package was evaluated using the following criteria: (1) Outside of regular business duties, the amount and quality of assistance given small businesses to obtain financing. (2) Advocacy for changes in the financial services industry to assist small companies. (3) Encouragement of the flow of investment capital to small ventures. (4) Active support for legislative or regulatory action designed to help small firms. (5) Measurable accomplishments through the advocacy efforts of the financial services or accounting industries to advance small business interests. Ms. Medeiros was nominated for this award by Melinda Ailes, Regional Director of the Southeast Regional Office of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC).

Ms. Medeiros has served the communities of the south coast of Massachusetts as a Vice President at BankFive in Fall River since 2004. She is well-known in the local financial community for the expert lending and advice she provides to small businesses, and the portfolio of companies that she has supported, nurtured, and financed is impressive. Ms. Medeiros is a member of the Rotary Club of Fall River and Prince Henry Society of Fall River and is also a director on the Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce board.

“BankFive is a very active SBA lender, and approved over $4 million worth of SBA-backed loans in 2012,” said Robert H. Nelson, Massachusetts District Director. “This is due in large part to Joan Medeiros, who works tirelessly on behalf of small businesses in the state. Joan has been partnering with SBA for many years and is very deserving of this award for her outstanding support of the SBA and small business.”

Ms. Medeiros will be honored along with the other Massachusetts Small Business Week 2013 award winners at the annual SBA awards event in June.